







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Plus the bathroom and the kitchen are clean. | |
| I think the price is very cheap. | |
| Are you the only smoker in the house? | |
| Dear, who is it? | |
| Hello mate, where are you? | |
| What kind of trick is that? | |
| No, she is a uni student in Russia. | |
| For the risotto, I need some arborio rice. | |
| Then I want to roast it, though. | |
| Huh, it's quite good money! | |
| He only does it when he is extremely stressed! | |
| I don't like smoking in the kitchen. | |
| Thanks for offering me that, dear. | |
| No, I won't... I don't want a house in Mayfair anymore! | |
| I really don't know, but I believe it's more than 100 years old. | |
| That's nice, the cupboards look good, the bench is okay... | |
| What's wrong with him? | |
| I am alone till my friend comes. | |
| That's extreme, I don't think we have a mortar and pestle. | |
| Erm... You look about 30? | |